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The UP Warriorz (UPW) have made a major change to their coaching setup ahead of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026. Former Indian cricketer Abhishek Nayar has been appointed as the new head coach, replacing Jon Lewis, who had been in charge for the past three seasons.
Former-KKR assistant takes over as head of UP Warriorz for WPL 2026
With this move, the team will hope to take a new direction and build a stronger campaign for their first-ever WPL title. Abhishek has years of coaching experience and is known for helping players grow and succeed. He has been part of the coaching team at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) since 2018 and played a key role in their IPL 2024 title win. In 2022, he also worked as head coach of Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Although this is Nayar’s first full-time role as head coach in women’s cricket, he already has some experience with the Warriorz. He worked with the team as a batting consultant during a training camp in August 2023, which gave him an early connection with the squad.
UP Warriorz’ Director of Cricket: “He has the right skills and mindset”
UP Warriorz’ Director of Cricket, Kshemal Waingankar, said the team is excited to have Nayar join as head coach. He believes Nayar has the right skills and mindset to help build a winning culture within the team.
“Bringing Abhishek Nayar on board as head coach feels like a natural and exciting step forward for UP Warriorz. In just the past 18 months alone, Abhishek has been part of three championship-winning campaigns, each in a different role, each leaving a lasting impact. We are thrilled to have him lead a Warriorz side that’s united, fearless, and hungry to grow. With Abhishek at the helm, we believe this group can do something truly special,” Kshemal Waingankar was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo. The Warriorz reached the playoffs in WPL 2023 but haven’t been consistent since. With Nayar now leading the way, the franchise hopes to improve and perform better in the upcoming season.
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